Pendant assembly with removable tether

Abstract

A pendant assembly includes a pendant and a tether. The pendant and tether are configured so that the tether can be removed from the pendant when the pendant is secured to a person-support apparatus, and so that the tether remains attached to the pendant when the pendant is removed from the person-support apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A siderail assembly, comprising:
 a siderail configured to be coupled to a person-support apparatus and include a first surface, a second surface, an edge extending between the first and second surfaces, the edge defining an opening in the siderail; 
 a pendant configured to control at least one function of the person-support apparatus, the pendant including a housing, a user interface supported by the housing, and a power source, the housing being sized to fit within the opening in the siderail; 
 a locking mechanism configured to secure the pendant to the siderail; 
 a tether configured to engage the locking mechanism of the pendant to permit the pendant to be uncoupled from the siderail when the tether is engaged with the locking mechanism and to permit the tether to be uncoupled from the pendant when the pendant is secured to the siderail; and 
 a key mechanism coupled to the tether, the key mechanism being insertable into a receptacle of the pendant to uncouple the pendant from the siderail. 
 
     
     
       2. The siderail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the key mechanism comprises a tip, and the locking mechanism comprises a block supported within the pendant, and the tip is configured to move the block to uncouple the pendant from the siderail. 
     
     
       3. The siderail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tether is configured to engage the locking mechanism of the pendant to prevent the pendant from being uncoupled from the siderail when the tether is not engaged with the locking mechanism and to permit the tether to be uncoupled from the pendant when the pendant is secured to the siderail. 
     
     
       4. The siderail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is rechargeable, and the siderail assembly comprises an inductive charging mechanism having a first coil located in the pendant and a second coil located in the siderail. 
     
     
       5. The siderail assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a coiling mechanism configured to receive the tether when the tether is uncoupled from the pendant. 
     
     
       6. A siderail assembly, comprising:
 a siderail configured to be coupled to a person-support apparatus and include a first surface, a second surface, an edge extending between the first and second surfaces, the edge defining an opening in the siderail; 
 a pendant configured to control at least one function of the person-support apparatus, the pendant including a housing, a user interface supported by the housing, and a power source, the housing being sized to fit within the opening in the siderail; 
 a locking mechanism configured to secure the pendant to the siderail; 
 a tether configured to engage the locking mechanism of the pendant to permit the pendant to be uncoupled from the siderail when the tether is engaged with the locking mechanism and to permit the tether to be uncoupled from the pendant when the pendant is secured to the siderail; and 
 an actuator coupled to the tether, the actuator being configured to uncouple the tether from the pendant. 
 
     
     
       7. The siderail assembly of  claim 6 , comprising a sheath concealing the actuator to deter unauthorized uncoupling of the tether from the pendant. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus, comprising:
 a frame; 
 a support member coupled to the frame, the support member defining a docking area; 
 a pendant configured to wirelessly control an electronically-controllable function of a person-support apparatus, the pendant being sized to fit securely within the docking area; 
 a tether releasably coupled to the pendant; 
 a locking mechanism configured to enable the pendant to be released from the docking area when the tether is coupled to the pendant and to prevent the tether from being released from the pendant when the pendant is not secured within the docking area; and 
 a key mechanism coupled to the tether, the key mechanism being insertable into a receptacle of the pendant to uncouple the pendant from the docking area. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the frame is adjustable to support a person in a plurality of positions including a horizontal position. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the support member is one of a siderail, headboard, and footboard. 
     
     
       11. The person-support apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the docking area is an opening defined in the support member. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 8 , comprising a coiling mechanism coupled to the frame, wherein the coiling mechanism is configured to receive the tether when the tether is released from the pendant. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , comprising a first inductive coil located in a hollow region of the support member. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , comprising a second inductive coil located in the pendant. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the frame is a component of one of a patient furniture, a healthcare furniture, a healthcare equipment, a healthcare device, and a support structure of a patient room. 
     
     
       16. A pendant assembly, comprising:
 a housing configured to be removably coupleable to a docking area of a person-support apparatus; 
 a user interface supported by the housing and configured to receive an input from a user; 
 a power source configured to supply power to the user interface; 
 a locking mechanism supported by the housing; 
 a tether releasably couplable to the pendant assembly to enable the pendant assembly to be released from the docking area only when the tether is coupled to the pendant assembly and to enable the tether to be released from the pendant assembly when the pendant assembly is secured within the docking area; and 
 a key mechanism coupled to the tether, the key mechanism being insertable into a receptacle of the housing to uncouple the pendant assembly from the docking area. 
 
     
     
       17. The pendant assembly of  claim 16 , comprising a block movable relative to the housing to selectively engage the person-support apparatus. 
     
     
       18. A pendant assembly, comprising:
 a housing configured to be removably coupleable to a docking area of a person-support apparatus; 
 a user interface supported by the housing and configured to receive an input from a user; 
 a power source configured to supply power to the user interface; 
 a locking mechanism supported by the housing, 
 a tether releasably couplable to the pendant to enable the pendant to be released from the docking area when the tether is coupled to the pendant and to enable the tether to be released from the pendant when the pendant is secured within the docking area; and 
 a tip coupled to the tether and a first block coupled to the locking mechanism, wherein the tip is configured to move the first block from a first position in which the tether is uncoupled from the pendant to a second position in which the tether is coupled to the pendant. 
 
     
     
       19. The pendant assembly of  claim 18 , comprising a slot adjacent the tip and a finger coupled to the locking mechanism, wherein the slot is configured to receive the finger when the tether is coupled to the locking mechanism. 
     
     
       20. The pendant assembly of  claim 19 , comprising a second block, wherein the second block is coupled to the finger and configured to engage a surface of the person-support apparatus when the tether is uncoupled from the pendant assembly. 
     
     
       21. The pendant assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second blocks are spring-loaded.